TV ratings for USA-England World Cup match

The USA-England match Saturday was the fifth most-viewed soccer telecast in ABC history. The two-hour match window averaged a 7.3 household rating (8.4 million households) and 12.9 million viewers. When the one-hour pregame coverage was included in the figures, the game delivered a 6.1 household rating (7 million households) and 10.8 million viewers.

The match ratings are based on ABC viewership in 56 markets and do not include data from Univision (Spanish) and ESPN Deportes (Portuguese).

ESPN's most-watched game over the weekend was Argentina vs. Nigeria -- a 2.8 household coverage rating (2.8 million households) and 3.7 million viewers.

Steve... any idea as to what the ratings are with bar viewing worked in. If it was anything like the bar I was in (one in Austin, TX) nationwide I have to believe more than 12.9 million were watching this match.

Speaking of overflowing bars, I was at Thirsty Bernie, the self-described Alpine sports bar in Arlington. I may be back there Friday morning. I hope it will be less hectic because there are presumably people who will actually have to go to work that day. What other bars (and other venues) did people patronize on Satuday?

Why no numbers from Univision and ESPN Deports? On Friday, more than twice the number watched Mexico/SA on Univison than ESPN. They are having huge viewerships and are often the only option on over-the-air broadcast.

I was at Cafe St. Ex, but the power was knocked out at halftime -- all the places on that stretch of 14th St, including Bar Pilar, were affected. Folks packed into a small Salvadoran restaurant across the street to watch the second half. Watching USA-England on Univision was just too ironic.

Tried to watch the Germany game today at Bier Gartenhaus, but there was a line out the door. Tried a few other bars on the H Street corridor before I found a seat at H Street Country Club. It seems like every bar, not just "soccer bars", are packed for WC matches this year.

Re: ratings and bars, I vaguely recollect some previous discussion where that type of viewership is factored in when they make their analysis.

Posted by: daggar | June 13, 2010 9:27 PM

DVR numbers are now available, but not really bar/public viewing. For purposes of comparitive ratings, public viewing is probably just understood to be a wash. Lots of people watch sports outside their home, this is no different. Millions watch the Super Bowl away from home, but the rating number stands the same with households.

I was just thinking about a nephew who married a limey and moved to Limeyland. I haven't yet heard how they got through Satuday. Does anyone know of other mixed marriages? (I suppose that relationships involving Algerians and Slovenes count, too.) Come to think of it, eight years ago a colleague with a Portuguese-bon husband had an interesting experience. I think that the Post's Metro section would have a good human interest story, if they were to track down a few of these couples.

2. I think these numbers prove what I said last week about that Onion article falling flat. I found myself in Seattle on Saturday, and planned to go to Neumos, a concert venue which apparently fits something like 700. My local friends called me in the morning to tell me that people were lining up outside at 6am to enter, and that there was no way we were getting in. We ended up going to a small bar in a completely different neighborhood, and estimating conservatively, there were about 50 fans rooting for the US, and a handful of England supporters. Satire has to have a grain of truth, and the "lone US soccer supporter" just doesn't anymore.

I was at McGinty's in Silver Spring. It was packed upstairs and down. I didn't try to estimate, but it was heavily and clearly USA fans, with a handful of Brits and a couple of Argentinians (jersey-wise). Great atmosphere, and I believe they're open for all games, but you should probably check before trying a 7 am one there.

I was in the Boston area over the weekend. I tried to go to Phoenix Landing on Mass. Avenue in Cambridge, but it was packed at noon with a 40 person line out the door. I tried one other bar that was full, and got into The Tavern further down MaAve. That bar ended up with a couple hundred people inside and a hundred or so out on the sidewalk (in a light rain) watching the TVs through where the windows would have been.

To:qwertyhotmailnet
I nominate you for the Nobel Peace prize! Your insight into how unpopular soccer is has opened my eyes. What was I thinking enjoying soccer all these years. Who knew the Super Bowl was so popular and they are talking hockey in Chicago and Basketball in Boston and LA? Mr. qwertyhotmailnet, would it meet your standards if I watch a true WORLD Championship game on 7/11/10? I'm sure the worldwide audience for the FIFA World Cup Final will kick the crap out of the 2010 Super Bowl's worldwide ratings.

The world is full of dictators and thugs. See the lately?
I'm talking in the USA. Just because you and the illegals like soccer, the rest of the USA has better things to watch. FYI we don't crush eachother to death to see a sport that sucks.

1) Super Bowl vs. World Cup in America. I've only ventured to a bar once for a Super Bowl, and it was half empty. All other times, it's been a house or apartment party. It's Sunday NIGHT, in the middle of winter, after all, and the game is marketed for home parties where attendance is usually in the teens - meaning a whole lot of TV's are turned on and tuned in.

2) TV Share. On a summer Saturday, a much greater number of TV's are OFF when compared with a Sunday or Tuesday evening. That said, assuming that DVR is included, the numbers may not be too skewed on the low side, but I'd be interested in share numbers (based on numbers of televisions actually on). Anyone have them?

3) Bar/City "Square" factor. It's our National Team. So much more fun to be around compadres in a 500 person bar or with 5000 of your closest friends in Dupont Circle, downtown Dallas, etc.

4) One can only imagine the viewership if the following future matches occurred:

a) USA/Mexico with the winner to the semifinals;
b) USA/Brasil for the championship.